Automatic multiple station timing system

ABSTRACT

A multiple station timing system including a station selecting device driven by a first motor. A clock motor and selectively settable start means jointly initiate a cycle by causing energization of the first motor to advance the station device successively through different stations. The station device when arriving at a new station, causes deenergization of the first motor and also causes the clock motor to drive a time duration switch which successively engages contacts placed along the path of the time duration switch. Such contacts form part of time duration circuits which are conditioned by selectively settable station switches which, in turn, are successively selected by the station device to re-energize the first motor.

United States Patent 1 1 3 Link et al. [4 Dec. 9, 1975 [54] AUTOMATIC MULTIPLE STATIQN TIMING 3,440,434 4/1969 Yates et al 307/1414 SYSTEM 3,712,987 1/1973 McKeown 307/41 [75] Inventors: Gustav A. Link, Los Angeles;

Robert E. Boyden, Temple City, jammy Ejammer lgavld g g l g h d both of Calif: ttomey, gent, or zrmre c wen [73] Assignee: Gustav A. Link, Los Angeles, Calif.

[57] ABSTRACT [22] Flled' 1973 A multiple station timing system including a station [21] Appl. No.: 424,196 selecting device driven by a first motor. A clock motor and selectively settable start means jointly initiate a cycle by causing energization of the first motor to ad- 'i vance the station device successively through difierent [58] Fieid S 307/141 4 141 stations. The station device when arriving at a new station, causes deenergization of the first motor and also 200/38 38 340/3094 Zg causes the clock motor to drive a time duration switch which successively engages contacts placed along the [56] References Cited path of the time duration switch. Such contacts form .part of time duration circuits which are conditioned UNITED STATES PATENTS by selectively settable station switches which, in turn,

3,027,506 3/1962 Stenhammar et al 307/ 141.8 are successively selected by the station device to re- 3,234,410 2/1966 Sherman 307/1418 energize the first motor 3,234,448 2/1966 Link 307/l4l.8

3,335,298 8/1967 Craig 307/141 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 65 75 s az as Sheet 1 of 3 U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 US. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 2 of3 3,925,683

U.S. Patent Dec. 9, 1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,925,683

lI/ll ll III/ll r fi 6 H a n\ H m. m m m w BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to multiple station timing systems and has particular reference to a system for timing the duration of sprinkling at each of a plurality of sta- 1O tions or areas.

2. Description of the Prior Art Timing systems of the above type have been used heretofore and although they are generally satisfactory, they normally require two or more motors in addition to a clock motor which is used for starting a sprinkling cycle. In many cases, one motor causes stepping of a station selecting switch or other device and another motor, other than the clock motor, controls the duration of sprinkling at each station. In other cases, more than one motor is required to selectively control the duration of sprinkling at the same station or area. This not only requires three or more motors but also the controls and wiring connections thereof. Because of the number of motors and controls needed it has generally been considered impractical heretofore to utilize batteries to drive such prior systems.

Also incorporated in many such prior art systems are a series of differentially settable time duration devices for controlling different stations such as knobs rotatable to different positions identified by indicia arranged in a circle. It has been discovered that such arrangement and adjustment of the knobs becomes confusing and difficult for an operator to orient the relation between the same and the actual layout of the different sprinkling stations or areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention a clock motor is employed to start a sprinkling cycle at any selected time of the day. Such clock motor is also effective to drive a time duration control switch from a home position to complete a circuit through a selectively settable station switch when a station device is driven to a station corresponding to such station switch. Therefore, only two motors are required, a clock motor and a motor to drive the station device through the different stations. An additional zero time duration circuit is provided which, when selected by a station switch, causes the station device to be driven through the corresponding station without stopping. This system, because of its fewer motors and other electrically operated components, lends itself to the use of batteries for electrical power.

According to another aspect of the invention, the various station switches are arranged in a linear array and are settable to select the different time duration circuits by moving the same linearly into registry with time duration reference indicia which extend in cooperative relation with the different station switches. Such arrangement of the station switches facilitate adjustment of the switches to different settings.

Another feature of the invention is the arrangement whereby all circuitry is printed on one surface of a printed circuit board and such circuitry provides contacts for the switches and thus eliminates separate switches and wiring for station selections, drive and timing.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention are accomplished will be readily understood on reference to the following specification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a battery operated sprinkler control system embodying a preferred form of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the system.

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevation view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a sectional plan view of the distributor switch and is taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the water distributing arrangement.

Describing first the basic arrangement and function of the system, a battery operated clock-timer motor unit 11, FIG. 1, and a battery operated indexing motor unit 12 are provided. The unit 11 drives a rotary dayof-the-week switch 13, FIGS. 1 and 2, a rotary hourof-the-day switch 14, FIGS. 2 and 3, and a station device comprising a rotary time duration switch 15, FIGS. 1, 2, and 4. The indexing motor unit 12 drives a rotary indexing switch 19, FIGS. 2 and 3, and a rotary distributor switch 16, FIGS. 3 and 5, which successively selects different stations or areas to be sprinkled.

In setting the system for a selected start time and for duration of sprinkling at different stations, day switches 17 are selectively set to indicate those days of the week during which sprinkling is to occur. The knob 18 of a settable start switch arm 21 is set relative to indicia 20 to determine the time of day at which a sprinkling sequence is to start. Station switches, one for each station, are individually set to different time periods represented by numbered reference lines 24 to determine the duration of sprinkling at each station. If no sprinkling is to occur at any station, the respective station switch 23 is set at zero reference line 24a. A switch 25, FIGS. 1 and 2, is selectively settable to a one start position to cause the system to pass through a sequence in which sprinkling will successively occur at only one half of the stations on one day and the remaining half on a successively selected day or to a two start position where the system will pass through a complete sequence in which sprinkling will successively occur at all selected stations.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the distributor switch 16 is effective to control sprinkling throughout different stations or areas. For this purpose, a main water supply pipe 29 carrying water under pressure is connected to the inlet port of a normally closed solenoid control valve 26. The outlet port of the latter is connected through a manifold pipe 27 to the inlet port of a plurality of normally closed solenoid valves 28. The outlet port of the latter are connected to respective branch pipes 30 to which a series of sprinkler heads 31 are connected. Each branch pipe 30 extends through a respective one of the sprinkling stations or areas.

Although the present embodiment provides for successively sprinkling any or all of ten different sprinkling stations, only five branch pipes are shown. Also, it will be apparent from the following description, that with certain modifications, the system can be made to service different numbers of sprinkling stations.

3 The valves 26 and 28 are of conventional construction.

The valve 26 is held open through a complete cycle of the system as will be described in detail hereafter by completing a circuit through an electric line 32 connected to the solenoid thereof.

Referring now in particular to FIGS. 1, 3, and 4, the control system is mounted mainly on a panel 35 of plastic or similar insulating material which is removably secured by screws 36 to a housing 37. The various wiring connections and stationary contacts of the different aforementioned switches, as shown in FIG. 2, are preferably formed by printed circuit techniques on the bottom surface of the panel 35 to reduce the cost of manufacturing.

Describing now the unit 11, the motor 38 thereof is suitably supported by posts 40 from the panel 35 and drives a clock shaft 41 at the rate of one revolution per hour. A gear 43 on shaft 41 is entrained through an idler gear 44 with a gear 45 mounted on a shaft 46 to drive the latter one revolution during each twenty-four hour period. A brush arm 47 is keyed on shaft 46 and carries a brush 53 in wiping contact with a broken ring contact strip 54 on panel 35. A switch arm 50 carried by a shaft 48 attached to knob 18 carries a second brush 55 in wiping engagement with a ring contact 56.

By setting the knob 18 to a desired hourly setting relative to indicia 20, an electrical contact will be made between the brushes 53 and 55 when such time is reached.

The day-of-the-week switch 13 comprises seven stationary contacts 59 spaced concentrically about shaft 57, FIGS. 1 and 2, carrying a brush am 58 on which is mounted a brush 159 in wiping engagement with a ring contact strip 60 and successively engageable with the different contacts 59. Also carried by the shaft 57 is a star wheel 61, FIG. 1, having seven leaves successively engageable by a pin 62 on the idler gear 44. The latter rotates through one revolution during each twenty-four hour period, and during each passage the pin 62 engages a leaf of the star wheel 61 to incrementally advance the brush 159 clockwise from contact 59 to the next.

Describing now the control of the switch forming part of the time duration control means for controlling the duration of time during which each station is to be maintained in sprinkling operation, a brush arm or control 64, FIG. 4, is slidably and rotatably mounted on the clock shaft 41 and carries a brush 65 engageable in wiping contact with a broken ring contact strip 66 and with spaced elements or contacts 67. A yoked armature lever 68 is fulcrummed at 70 for movement about a horizontal axis and carries trunnion pins 71 engageable in a groove 72 formed in a cylindrical portion of the brush arm 64. A tension spring 73 normally holds the brush arm 64 in its lower illustrated position wherein a clutch face 74 on the arm is out-of-engagement with a corresponding face on a clutch member 75 fixedly carried by the clock shaft 41 so that normally no rotation is imported to the arm 64.

Also, normally, the brush 65 is held in zero time or home position relative to the contacts 67 by a tension spring 76 which is attached at one end 77 to the side of the hub of arm 64 and anchored at its opposite end so as to yieldably hold the arm 61 against a stationary pin 176 (see FIG. 1 in particular).

An electromagnet 77 is mounted on the panel 35 and when energized is effective to rock the armature lever 4 68 clockwise to elevate the brush arm 64 into clutched engagement with the member to enable the clock motor 38 to advance the brush 65 in a clockwise direction from its normal zero position shown in FIG. 2 where it is out-of-engagement with both ring contact 66 and the contacts 67.

It should be noted at this time that the contacts 67 are spaced different angular distances corresponding to the different times towhich the station switches 23 may be set. That is, the first contact 67a is located to be engaged by the brush 65 after a two minute period following energization of the magnet 77 whereas contact 67b is spaced to be engaged by the brush 65 after a five minute period following energization of the magnet 77, and so on.

The various contacts 67 are connected by lines 80 to respective ones of a series of stationary bus strips 81 which extend past the various settable station selecting switches 23. The switches 23 form means for conditioning different contacts 67 to control the length of time the station device is at any of the stations. Such switches comprise brushes 79 in wiping engagement with contact strips 181 and settable in engagement with different ones of the bus strips 81. Knobs 82 are connected to the brushes 79 and extend through slots 83 in the panel 35 so that they may be moved to different positions opposite reference lines 24 to connect different bus strips 181 with strips 81. lndicia 84, opposite the various lines 24, indicate the duration of time during which the different selected stations or areas will be sprinkled, depending upon the setting of the various switches 23.

Describing now the indexing unit 12, the motor 85 thereof is suitably supported by the panel 35 through posts 86 and its hollow motor shaft 87 is coupled through a friction clutch 88 to a brush arm 90 carrying two separate brushes 91 and 92 electrically insulated from each other. Arm 90 is carried by a shaft 89 rotatably mounted within shaft 87.

The brush 91 is in continual wiping engagement with a contact ring strip 93 and is normally out-of-engagement with a broken contact ring94. The latter has breaks 95 therein located at the different station positions of the switch. Contacts 96 are located at such station positions, in the path of brush 91, and are out of electrical contact with the ring 94 but are connected through lines 97 to respective ones of the station switch strips 181. Brush 91 and contacts 96 form-part of the means responsive to engagement of the brush 65 with a conditioned contact 67 for reenergizing the motor 85.

The brush 92 is movable into engagement with contacts 98 located at the different station positions and integral with an arcuate strip 100 connected by line 101 to the electromagnet 77. Brush 92 is also engageable with the strip 94 after initial rotation of the switch arm 90.

Describing now the operation of the system, assume that the day, hour, start and one-two start switches 17, 18, 21, 25, respectively are set as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and that an indexing knob on the indexing shaft 89 is in its start position and that an on/off switch 103 is closed. The clock motor 38 is continuously driven by a battery 104. At 6:00 am. on Monday,

7 a circuit will be completed through a battery 105,

switch 103, line 106, M switch 17, line 107, contact 59, brush 159, ring 60, line 108, ring 54, brushes 53, 55, ring 56, line 99, normally closed contacts 109 of the relay 111, line 112 and motor 85 to the battery 105.

I Accordingly the motor 85 will rotate the indexing switch arm 90 clockwise and'when' the brush 91 contacts arcuate strip 94, a holding circuit is established from battery 105 through switch 103, line 106, strip 94, brush 91, ring contact 93, line 1 12, and motor 85. As the selector switch' 19 and station selecting switch 16 arrive at No. 1 station position and since the No. 1 station switch 23 is set at zero or in a non-sprinkling position, a circuit will be completed from the 105 through lines 106, 113 and 114, zero bus strip 81, No. 1 station switch 23, line 97, contact 96, brush 91, contact ring 93, line 112, and motor 85 to the battery. Therefore, the motor 85 will continue to drive the indexing switch to the No. 2 station position where it will be noted that the battery No. 2 switch 23 is set for twenty minutes sprinkling time. Now, a circuit will be completed through battery 105, switch 103, line 106,

contact strip 94, brush 92, contact 98, line 101, relay 111 and ground 112 to the battery, thereby breaking the motor circuit and allowing the station selector device 16 to come to rest. At this time a parallel circuit will be completed through line 101 and magnet 77 to ground, thereby clutching brush arm 64, FIG. 4, to the clock-driven member 75. Thus, the brush 65 will sweep over the various contacts 67 and when it reaches contact 670 after a duration of twenty minutes, it will complete a circuit from battery 105, through switch 103, lines 106, 113, 114, line 118, contact strip 66, brush 65, contact 670 line 120, 20 minute bus strip 81, brush 79a, strip 181, lines 121 and 97, station No. 2 contact 96, brush 91, contact ring 93, line 112 and motor 85 to the battery, thereby causing the motor to advance toward No. 3 station where the foregoing events will be repeated, and so on.

After the indexing switch has advanced from its No. 5 station, it comes to an unnumbered station where it engages a contact 123 connected by a line 124 to the now opened switch 25. Accordingly, the motor will come to rest until 6:00 am. on Wednesday (the Tuesday switch 17 being opened). At this time, a circuit will be completed through the clock and start brushes, 53 and 55 in the manner noted above causing the selector switch brushes 91 and 92 to continue their excursion through the remaining five stations identified as Nos. 6 to 10 and return to their illustrated start positions where the motor circuit will be opened.

In the event the switch is closed, i.e., set to its two starts position, the motor circuit will remain closed as the selector switch sweeps across the contact 123 so that it will make an unbroken excursion from station No. 1 through station No. 10 in one cycle of the system.

Describing now the distributor switch 16, FIGS. 3 and 5, an arm 125 is attached to the lower end of the shaft 89 and carries a 3-leaved brush 126. As the switch moves out of its illustrated start position, the brush 126 will complete a circuit from a battery 127, through line 128, the solenoid of the aforementioned valve 26, line 32, ring contact 130, brush 126, and broken contact ring 131 to the battery, thereby opening the valve 26 to apply water under pressure to the various valves 28. As the selector switch reaches its No. l station, a circuit will be completed from the battery 127 through a line 128, the solenoid of the No. 1 area valve, its line 33, brush 126 and contact ring 130 to the battery, thereby applying water to the No. 1 branch line 30. Alternatively, in lieu of the distributor switch 16, with obvious modifications the solenoid of valve 28 6 could be connected in circuit with station lines 97, FIG. 2, as indicated at 131. Also a fluid distributor switch, such as disclosed in the Link US. Pat. No. 3,234,448, issued on Feb. 8, 1966, could be used in lieu of the electrical distributor switch 16.

I claim:

1. A multiple station timing system comprising a station device movable to different stations,

a first motor for moving said station device,

a continuous operable clock motor,

start means controlled by said clock motor for energizing said first motor at a selected time,

means responsive to said station device upon reaching one of said stations for deenergizing said first motor,

a control device movable through a predetermined path by said clock motor,

time duration control means for determining the duration of time said station device is at different ones of said stations,

said duration control means including elements spaced along the path of said control device, means for conditioning selected ones of said elements,

means responsive to engagement of said control device with a conditioned one of said elements for reenergizing said first motor, means normally maintaining said control device in a home position spaced from said elements, and

means responsive to movement of said station device to one of said stations for causing said clock motor to drive said control device from said home position through said path.

2. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 1 comprising means responsive to movement of said station device between each of said stations for returning said control device to said home position.

3. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 1 comprising selectively settable time-start means for controlling said motor energizing means to energize said first motor at selectively different times.

4. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 2 comprising a clutch for clutching said control device to said clock motor,

said last mentioned means comprising means for disabling said clutch, and

spring means for biasing said control device to said home position.

5. A multiple station timing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said elements comprise electric contacts, and

said control device comprises brush means engageable with successive ones of said contacts.

6. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means is responsive to movement of said station device to any of said stations for causing said clock motor to drive said control device through said path.

7. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 1 comprising selectively settable means for causing deenergization of said first motor when said station device is intermediate certain of said stations,

said start means being effective to reenergize said first motor at a subsequent selected time.

8. .A multiple station timing system as defined in claim wherein said time duration control means comprises a plurality of circuits connected to respective ones of said contacts,

a zero time duration circuit,

means for conditioning said zero time duration circuits, and

means controlled by said zero time duration circuit when conditioned for causing said first motor to drive said station device through the corresponding station.

9. A multiple station timing system comprising a station device movable through different stations,

a first motor for moving said device,

a continuously operable clock motor,

selectively settable time-start means,

initiating means controlled jointly by said clock motor and said start means for energizing said first motor,

means responsive to said station device upon reaching one of said stations for deenergizing said first motor,

a switch member movable through a predetermined path by said clock motor,

time duration control means for determining the duration of time said device is at different ones of said stations,

said time duration means including contacts spaced along the path of said switch member and engageable thereby,

time duration circuits connected to respective ones of said contacts,

normally ineffective time duration switches selectively settable in circuit with different ones of said time duration circuits, and

means responsive to movement of said station device into said stations for rendering respective ones of said selecting switches effective,

said station device being effective after moving through certain of said stations for deenergizing said first motor,

said initiating means being subsequently controlled by said start means for reenergizing said first motor to move said station device successively through the remainder of said stations, and

said duration control means being effective upon completion of a circuit through said switch member and the contact of the said duration control circuit which is in circuit with a conditioned duration control switch for reenergizing said first motor. 

1. A multiple station timing system comprising a station device movable to different stations, a first motor for moving said station device, a continuous operable clock motor, start means controlled by said clock motor for energizing said first motor at a selected time, means responsive to said station device upon reaching one of said stations for deenergizing said first motor, a control device movable through a predetermined path by said clock motor, time duration control means for determining the duration of time said station device is at different ones of said stations, said duration control means including elements spaced along the path of said control device, means for conditioning selected ones of said elements, means responsive to engagement of said control device with a conditioned one of said elements for reenergizing said first motor, means normally maintaining saId control device in a home position spaced from said elements, and means responsive to movement of said station device to one of said stations for causing said clock motor to drive said control device from said home position through said path.
 2. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 1 comprising means responsive to movement of said station device between each of said stations for returning said control device to said home position.
 3. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 1 comprising selectively settable time-start means for controlling said motor energizing means to energize said first motor at selectively different times.
 4. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 2 comprising a clutch for clutching said control device to said clock motor, said last mentioned means comprising means for disabling said clutch, and spring means for biasing said control device to said home position.
 5. A multiple station timing device as defined in claim 1 wherein said elements comprise electric contacts, and said control device comprises brush means engageable with successive ones of said contacts.
 6. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 1 wherein said last mentioned means is responsive to movement of said station device to any of said stations for causing said clock motor to drive said control device through said path.
 7. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 1 comprising selectively settable means for causing deenergization of said first motor when said station device is intermediate certain of said stations, said start means being effective to reenergize said first motor at a subsequent selected time.
 8. A multiple station timing system as defined in claim 5 wherein said time duration control means comprises a plurality of circuits connected to respective ones of said contacts, a zero time duration circuit, means for conditioning said zero time duration circuits, and means controlled by said zero time duration circuit when conditioned for causing said first motor to drive said station device through the corresponding station.
 9. A multiple station timing system comprising a station device movable through different stations, a first motor for moving said device, a continuously operable clock motor, selectively settable time-start means, initiating means controlled jointly by said clock motor and said start means for energizing said first motor, means responsive to said station device upon reaching one of said stations for deenergizing said first motor, a switch member movable through a predetermined path by said clock motor, time duration control means for determining the duration of time said device is at different ones of said stations, said time duration means including contacts spaced along the path of said switch member and engageable thereby, time duration circuits connected to respective ones of said contacts, normally ineffective time duration switches selectively settable in circuit with different ones of said time duration circuits, and means responsive to movement of said station device into said stations for rendering respective ones of said selecting switches effective, said station device being effective after moving through certain of said stations for deenergizing said first motor, said initiating means being subsequently controlled by said start means for reenergizing said first motor to move said station device successively through the remainder of said stations, and said duration control means being effective upon completion of a circuit through said switch member and the contact of the said duration control circuit which is in circuit with a conditioned duration control switch for reenergizing said first motor. 